Designed for 3d printing

Design tips for 3D printing

When getting started with 3D printing, it's important to understand that designing objects for 3D printing is slightly different from designing for other manufacturing methods. With 3D printing, objects are built up layer by layer, so there are certain design elements that you have to take into account to get a successful result. In this blog, we will share some important design tips for 3D printing.

1. Make use of support structures

One of the main differences between 3D printing and other manufacturing methods is that 3D printers build objects layer by layer. This means that if an object has protrusions or protrusions, they will hang in the air until more material is printed underneath to support it. To avoid this, you need to add support structures to your design. These structures can be easily removed after printing.

2. Design cavities

Another important consideration when designing for 3D printing is that you can design objects with cavities and other internal structures. This can help to reduce the weight of the object and shorten the printing time. However, make sure that you make the design in such a way that the inside is easily accessible during the printing process.

3. Customize the fill

The infill is the pattern used to fill the inside of an object. This affects both the strength and the print time of the object. If you want to print an object with a lot of detail, you can choose to use a high infill to increase the strength. However, if the object is mainly exterior, you can choose a lower infill to save printing time and material costs.

4. Add beveled edges

In 3D printing, the edges of an object are sometimes slightly rounded or beveled to improve the appearance and remove any sharp edges. This can also help strengthen the object and reduce any weak points.

5. Test and optimize

Finally, it's important to test your design before printing. This can help identify problems and optimize your design for 3D printing. A useful way to do this is to have a prototype or certain parts of your design printed and check whether it meets your expectations. This way you can improve the design before printing the final, full version.

With these design tips you can design objects that are perfectly adapted to 3D printing. By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your objects not only look good, but are also functional and long lasting. By experimenting with different design techniques, you can ultimately achieve the best results. We hope these tips will get you started in designing objects for 3D printing. Good luck with designing!